The Prague Summer Program offers a variety of activities beyond the classroom that provide opportunities to experience the rich cultural heritage of the Czech Republic and view its natural beauty. For an orientation to Prague, we offer walking tours on the first Saturday and Sunday of the program. In addition, participants will be offered the opportunity to visit the former Nazi holding camp of Terezin, and take part in other weekend excursions throughout Bohemia. Participants are encouraged to attend ongoing PSP events, including the Czech Film Series, the Reading Series (offering readings by faculty and guests), our famous PSP Lecture Series, as well as the "Survival" Czech Language Class.

Czech Film Series

The PSP Czech Film Series offers participants each week the chance to view some of the best work by past and present Czech filmmakers. Past years' selections included the most recent work by Jan Svankmajer, Petr Zelenka, Bohdan Slama, Martin Sulik and others, as well as such classics as Jiri Menzel's Closely Watched Trains. Films are selected and introduced by Charles University's film history instructors.

Reading Series

Throughout the Prague Summer Program, our writing faculty and guest writers will conduct readings on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in the lovely Ypsilon Theatre in central Prague. Monday nights are reserved for student readings in a venue close to the dorm.

Prague Summer Program Lecture Series

Our famous PSP Lecture Series is available to all the participants, though attendance is mandatory for all four-week students seeking academic credit. All the lectures will center on the theme, "The Nature of Mother Nature: Women, Power and the Environment." The lectures are presented by Czech and American professors and will focus and enrich your experience as a writer, photographer, or literature studies student in a foreign land. The PSP Lectures Series is held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Tuesday of the Program.

Survival Czech: A quick course in conversational Czech language

Held 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. every Tuesday and 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, this course is taught by graduates of Charles University, with the aid of a workbook. An extra fee of 700 korunas will be charged for this course (collected at orientation in Prague), which covers the cost of the workbook. The class is designed to provide an introduction to this fascinating and, for native English speakers, very difficult language. It is not a complete course in the language. It will, however, provide some basics for navigating the city and gaining a glimpse of Czech culture through its language.

This course can be taken in addition to one or two other courses. No academic credit is awarded for this course.